Page 9 TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS §§ 120

Home , Radio Act of 1927

Section 115, act Feb. 23, 1927, ch. 169, § 35, 44 Stat. 1174, Sec. related to application of section 81 et seq. of this title 216. Receivers and trustees; application of chap- to Philippine Islands and Canal Zone. ter. Section 116, act Feb. 23, 1927, ch. 169, § 36, 44 Stat. 1174, 217. Agents’ acts and omissions; liability of car- related to administration of radio laws in Territories rier. and insular possessions. See section 329 of this title. 218. Management of business; inquiries by Com- Section 117, act Feb. 23, 1927, ch. 169, § 38, 44 Stat. 1174, mission. related to invalidity of part of chapter and effect as to 219. Reports by carriers; contents and require- remainder. See section 608 of this title. ments generally. Section 118, act Feb. 23, 1927, ch. 169, § 39, 44 Stat. 1174, 220. Accounts, records, and memoranda. related to repeal of sections 51–63 and effect of repeal 221. Consolidations and mergers of telephone com- on existing rights. panies. Section 119, act Feb. 23, 1927, ch. 169, § 41, 44 Stat. 1174, 222. Privacy of customer information. related to citation of section 81 et seq. of this title as 223. Obscene or harassing telephone calls in the ‘‘Radio Act of 1927.’’ District of Columbia or in interstate or foreign communications. §§ 120, 121. Omitted 224. Pole attachments. 225. Telecommunications services for hearing-im- CODIFICATION paired and speech-impaired individuals. Section 120, act July 5, 1932, ch. 421, § 1, 47 Stat. 576, 226. Telephone operator services. related to equipment necessary on ocean-going vessels 227. Restrictions on use of telephone equipment. using ports in the Canal Zone. 227a. Consumer education materials on how to Section 121, act July 5, 1932, ch. 421, § 2, 47 Stat. 576, avoid scams that rely upon misleading or related to jurisdiction of violations and penalties for inaccurate caller identification informa- ocean-going vessels not properly equipped. tion. 228. Regulation of carrier offering of pay-per-call CHAPTER 5—WIRE OR RADIO services. COMMUNICATION 229. Communications Assistance for Law Enforce- ment Act compliance. SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS 230. Protection for private blocking and screening Sec. of offensive material. 151. Purposes of chapter; Federal Communications 231. Restriction of access by minors to materials Commission created. commercially distributed by means of 152. Application of chapter. World Wide Web that are harmful to mi- 153. Definitions. nors. 154. Federal Communications Commission. PART II—DEVELOPMENT OF COMPETITIVE MARKETS 155. Commission. 155a. Authority of Chief Information Officer. 251. Interconnection. 156. Authorization of appropriations. 252. Procedures for negotiation, arbitration, and 157. New technologies and services. approval of agreements. 158. Application fees. 253. Removal of barriers to entry. 159. Regulatory fees. 254. Universal service. 159a. Provisions applicable to application and regu- 255. Access by persons with disabilities. latory fees. 256. Coordination for interconnectivity. 160. Competition in provision of telecommunica- 257. Market entry barriers proceeding. tions service. 258. Illegal changes in subscriber carrier selec- 161. Regulatory reform. tions. 162. Additional research authorities of the FCC. 259. Infrastructure sharing. 163. Communications marketplace report. 260. Provision of telemessaging service. SUBCHAPTER II—COMMON CARRIERS 261. Effect on other requirements. 262. Ensuring the integrity of voice communica- PART I—COMMON CARRIER REGULATION tions.

201. Service and charges. PART III—SPECIAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING BELL 202. Discriminations and preferences. OPERATING COMPANIES 203. Schedules of charges. 204. Hearings on new charges; suspension pending 271. Bell operating company entry into hearing; refunds; duration of hearing; ap- interLATA services. peal of order concluding hearing. 272. Separate affiliate; safeguards. 205. Commission authorized to prescribe just and 273. Manufacturing by Bell operating companies. reasonable charges; penalties for violations. 274. Electronic publishing by Bell operating com- 206. Carriers’ liability for damages. panies. 207. Recovery of damages. 275. Alarm monitoring services. 208. Complaints to Commission; investigations; 276. Provision of payphone service. duration of investigation; appeal of order SUBCHAPTER III—SPECIAL PROVISIONS concluding investigation. RELATING TO RADIO 209. Orders for payment of money. PART I—GENERAL PROVISIONS 210. Franks and passes; free service to governmental agencies in connection with na- 301. License for radio communication or trans- tional defense. mission of energy. 211. Contracts of carriers; filing with Commission. 302. Repealed. 212. Interlocking directorates; officials dealing in 302a. Devices which interfere with radio reception. securities. 303. Powers and duties of Commission. 213. Valuation of property of carrier. 303a. Standards for children’s television program- 214. Extension of lines or discontinuance of serv- ming. ice; certificate of public convenience and 303b. Consideration of children’s television service necessity. in broadcast license renewal. 215. Examination of transactions relating to fur- 303c. Television program improvement. nishing of services, equipment, etc.; reports 304. Waiver by license of claims to particular fre- to Congress. quency or of electromagnetic spectrum. TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS Page 10

Sec. Sec. 305. Government owned stations. 356. Approval of installations by Commission. 306. Foreign ships; application of section 301. 357. Safety information. 307. Licenses. 358. Master’s control over operations. 308. Requirements for license. 359. Certificates of compliance; issuance, modi- 309. Application for license. fication, and cancellation. 309a. Reports related to spectrum auctions. 360. Station licenses; inspection of equipment by 310. License ownership restrictions. Commission. 311. Requirements as to certain applications in 361. Control by Commission; review of decisions. broadcasting service. 362. Forfeitures; recovery. 312. Administrative sanctions. 363. Automated ship distress and safety systems. 312a. Revocation of operator’s license used in un- lawful distribution of controlled sub- PART III—RADIO INSTALLATIONS ON VESSELS CARRYING stances. PASSENGERS FOR HIRE 313. Application of antitrust laws to manufacture, 381. Vessels transporting more than six pas- sale, and trade in radio apparatus. sengers for hire required to be equipped 314. Competition in commerce; preservation. with radiotelephone. 315. Candidates for public office. 382. Vessels excepted from radiotelephone require- 316. Modification by Commission of station li- ment. censes or construction permits; burden of 383. Exemptions by Commission. proof. 384. Authority of Commission; operations, instal- 317. Announcement of payment for broadcast. lations, and additional equipment. 318. Transmitting apparatus; operator’s license. 385. Inspections. 319. Construction permits. 386. Forfeitures. 320. Stations liable to interfere with distress signals; designation and regulation. PART IV—ASSISTANCE FOR PLANNING AND CONSTRUC- 321. Distress signals and communications; equip- TION OF PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES; ment on vessels; regulations. TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEMONSTRATIONS; CORPORATION 322. Exchanging radio communications between FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING; GENERAL PROVISIONS land and ship stations and from ship to ship. SUBPART A—ASSISTANCE FOR PLANNING AND CONSTRUC- 323. Interference between Government and com- TION OF PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES mercial stations. 390. Declaration of purpose. 324. Use of minimum power. 391. Authorization of appropriations. 325. False, fraudulent, or unauthorized trans- 392. Grants for construction. missions. 392a. Repealed. 326. Censorship. 393. Criteria for approval and expenditures by 327. Naval stations; use for commercial messages; Secretary. rates. 393a. Long-range planning for facilities. 328. Repealed. 329. Administration of radio laws in Territories SUBPART B—NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR CHILDREN’S and possessions. EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION 330. Prohibition against shipment of certain tele- 394. Establishment of National Endowment. vision receivers. 331. Very high frequency stations and AM radio SUBPART C—TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEMONSTRATIONS stations. 332. Mobile services. 395. Assistance for demonstration projects. 333. Willful or malicious interference. SUBPART D—CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING 334. Limitation on revision of equal employment opportunity regulations. 396. Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 335. Direct broadcast satellite service obligations. SUBPART E—GENERAL PROVISIONS 336. Broadcast spectrum flexibility. 337. Allocation and assignment of new public safe- 397. Definitions. ty services licenses and commercial li- 398. Federal interference or control. censes. 399. Support of political candidates prohibited. 338. Carriage of local television signals by sat- 399a. Use of business or institutional logograms. ellite carriers. 399b. Offering of certain services, facilities, or 339. Carriage of distant television stations by sat- products by public broadcast station. ellite carriers. SUBCHAPTER IV—PROCEDURAL AND 340. Significantly viewed signals permitted to be ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS carried. 341. Carriage of television signals to certain sub- 401. Enforcement provisions. scribers. 402. Judicial review of Commission’s orders and 342. Process for issuing qualified carrier certifi- decisions. cation. 403. Inquiry by Commission on its own motion. 343. Conditions on commercial terrestrial oper- 404. Reports of investigations. ations. 405. Petition for reconsideration; procedure; disposition; time of filing; additional evidence; PART II—RADIO EQUIPMENT AND RADIO OPERATORS ON time for disposition of petition for reconsid- BOARD SHIP eration of order concluding hearing or in- 351. Ship radio stations and operations. vestigation; appeal of order. 352. Exemptions. 406. Compelling furnishing of facilities; manda- 353. Radio equipment and operators. mus; jurisdiction. 353a. Operators and watches on radiotelephone 407. Order for payment of money; petition for en- equipped ships. forcement; procedure; order of Commission 354. Technical requirements of equipment on ra- as prima facie evidence; costs; attorneys’ diotelegraph equipped ships. fees. 354a. Technical requirements of equipment on ra- 408. Order not for payment of money; when effec- diotelephone equipped ships. tive. 355. Survival craft. 409. Hearings. Page 11 TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS § 151

Sec. Sec. 410. Joint boards and commissions. PART V—VIDEO PROGRAMMING SERVICES PROVIDED BY 411. Joinder of parties. TELEPHONE COMPANIES 412. Documents filed with Commission as public 571. Regulatory treatment of video programming records; prima facie evidence; confidential services. records. 572. Prohibition on buy outs. 413. Designation of agent for service; method of 573. Establishment of open video systems. service. 414. Exclusiveness of chapter. SUBCHAPTER VI—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 415. Limitations of actions. 601. Interstate Commerce Commission and Post- 416. Orders of Commission. master General; duties, powers, and func- tions transferred to Commission. SUBCHAPTER V—PENAL PROVISIONS; 602, 603. Repealed. FORFEITURES 604. Effect of transfer. 501. General penalty. 605. Unauthorized publication or use of commu- 502. Violation of rules, regulations, etc. nications. 503. Forfeitures. 606. War powers of President. 504. Forfeitures. 607. Effective date of chapter. 505. Venue of trials. 608. Separability. 506. Repealed. 609. Short title. 610. Telephone service for disabled. 507. Violation of Great Lakes Agreement. 611. Closed-captioning of public service announce- 508. Disclosure of payments to individuals con- ments. nected with broadcasts. 612. Syndicated exclusivity. 509. Prohibited practices in contests of knowl- 613. Video programming accessibility. edge, skill, or chance. 614. Telecommunications Development Fund. 510. Forfeiture of communications devices. 615. Support for universal emergency telephone SUBCHAPTER V–A—CABLE COMMUNICATIONS number. 615a. Service provider parity of protection. PART I—GENERAL PROVISIONS 615a–1. Duty to provide 9–1–1 and enhanced 9–1–1 service. 521. Purposes. 615b. Definitions. 522. Definitions. 615c. Emergency Access Advisory Committee. 616. Internet protocol-based relay services. PART II—USE OF CABLE CHANNELS AND CABLE 617. Access to advanced communications services OWNERSHIP RESTRICTIONS and equipment. 531. Cable channels for public, educational, or 618. Enforcement and recordkeeping obligations. governmental use. 619. Internet browsers built into telephones used 532. Cable channels for commercial use. with public mobile services. 533. Ownership restrictions. 620. Relay services for deaf-blind individuals. 534. Carriage of local commercial television sig- 621. Rulemaking on loud commercials required. nals. 622. Optional electronic labeling of communica- 535. Carriage of noncommercial educational tele- tions equipment. vision. 623. Configuration of multi-line telephone sys- 536. Regulation of carriage agreements. tems for direct dialing of 9–1–1. 537. Sales of cable systems. 624. Disclosure requirements for United States- 537a. Carriage of certain programming. based foreign media outlets.

PART III—FRANCHISING AND REGULATION SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS 541. General franchise requirements. § 151. Purposes of chapter; Federal Communica- 542. Franchise fees. tions Commission created 543. Regulation of rates. 544. Regulation of services, facilities, and equip- For the purpose of regulating interstate and ment. foreign commerce in communication by wire 544a. Consumer electronics equipment compatibil- and radio so as to make available, so far as pos- ity. sible, to all the people of the United States, 545. Modification of franchise obligations. without discrimination on the basis of race, 546. Renewal. color, religion, national origin, or sex, a rapid, 547. Conditions of sale. 548. Development of competition and diversity in efficient, Nation-wide, and world-wide wire and video programming distribution. radio communication service with adequate fa- 549. Competitive availability of navigation de- cilities at reasonable charges, for the purpose of vices. the national defense, for the purpose of promot- ing safety of life and property through the use of PART IV—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS wire and radio communications, and for the pur- 551. Protection of subscriber privacy. pose of securing a more effective execution of 552. Consumer protection and customer service. this policy by centralizing authority heretofore 553. Unauthorized reception of cable service. granted by law to several agencies and by grant- 554. Equal employment opportunity. ing additional authority with respect to inter- 555. Judicial proceedings. 555a. Limitation of franchising authority liability. state and foreign commerce in wire and radio 556. Coordination of Federal, State, and local au- communication, there is created a commission thority. to be known as the ‘‘Federal Communications 557. Existing franchises. Commission’’, which shall be constituted as 558. Criminal and civil liability. hereinafter provided, and which shall execute 559. Obscene programming. and enforce the provisions of this chapter. 560. Scrambling of cable channels for nonsubscrib- ers. (June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title I, § 1, 48 Stat. 1064; 561. Scrambling of sexually explicit adult video May 20, 1937, ch. 229, § 1, 50 Stat. 189; Pub. L. service programming. 104–104, title I, § 104, Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 86.)